ABN AMRO Bank N.V. the Amsterdam headquartered banking and financial service provider recently revealed the successor candidate for the role of CEO as Mr. Kees Van Dijkhuizen – the reining Chief Executive Officer is set to see the end of his three-year long term later this year.
As per the statement released by the firm, it has hired Mr. Robert Swaak to succeed Mr. Kees during its upcoming Annual General Meeting later this year pending regulatory approval. Mr. Kees Van Dijkhuizen has been a part of ABN AMRO for seven years now having joined the firm back in 2013 as its Chief Financial Officer. He began his term as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank back in 2017 and has since led the bank into some of its best years since its establishment in 1991.
The state-owned bank is currently the third-largest bank in the Netherlands and a great deal of its growth to its current status could be attributed to Mr. Van Dijkhuizen, who during his term as CEO managed to lead the bank in an exemplary fashion with society’s best interests at heart well in line with its motto “Banking for Better, for Generations to Come”.
As per the update, Kees will step down from his role on 22nd April 2020 during the bank’s annual general meeting while Mr. Robert succeeds him on the same day. Mr. Swaak is currently serving in Price Water House Coopers – one of the big four accounting firms in the global market. Robert has been a part of PWC for nearly twelve years now and is currently serving in the role of Global Relationship Partner.
Robert has held multiple senior-level leadership and management roles in PWC during his term with the firm. Some of his notable roles include CFO, COO, Head of Global Clients – Industries and Sectors division and Chairman of the Board of Management.
In his new role as CEO, Robert is expected to focus on further refining the bank’s strategy during his four-year term in the role and implement it with a goal to build future proof bank while ensuring smooth performance and customer satisfaction. There is expected to be a higher focus on implementing improvement programs in detecting financial crime and promoting public-private co-operation on DFC and compliance as the number of rules and regulations continues to grow with each passing day.
Tom de Swaan – Chairman of ABN AMRO’s Supervisory Board thanked Mr. Kees for his contributions to the firm and efforts in leading the bank to its current state and said that the bank owes Kees a great deal. Speaking about Robert’s appointment as designated CEO, Tom said, “We are very pleased that after having carried out an extensive and thorough procedure, we are able to appoint Robert Swaak as the new CEO of ABN AMRO.
Over the past 30 years, Robert has acquired broad and relevant expertise in the financial sector and he is a seasoned executive who knows the ins and outs of what it takes to run a large listed company. At the same time, Robert is a modern leader who can build bridges and who has proven experience in heading up and managing the successful implementation of challenging strategies and innovations.
Moreover, as a non-executive and supervisory board member of various organisations in the Netherlands, Robert is firmly rooted in Dutch society. And so I have every faith that he will make a valuable contribution to ABN AMRO’s future”.
Commenting on his new role at the firm, Mr. Robert Swaak said, “ABN AMRO’s role and the direction the bank has chosen to take resonate with me. It is this, together with the clear challenges ABN AMRO is facing as well, that strengthened my conviction that this is a good step. I am keen to take on these issues and I very much look forward to starting at ABN AMRO”.
Commenting about his decision to step down from the role as CEO, Mr. Kees Van Dijkhuizen said, “I’m proud to have been able to help shape the future of ABN AMRO. During the coming months, I will continue to give my all to implement our plans and strategy, with the support of all the bank’s employees, and I will help Robert to prepare fully for his new role once he’s joined the bank. I’ve come to know Robert as an engaging and intelligent man and I’m convinced that he’s the right person to navigate ABN AMRO into the next phase”.
While the statement mentioned that Mr. Van Dijkhuizen is stepping from as CEO it failed to provide details on his future endeavors and if he will continue to remain a part of the firm. But the statement revealed that Robert’s nomination to succeed as CEO of the bank seems to be supported by the Employee Council and NLFI.
